Stocking boarding machine



Dec. 13, 1938. F. G. KOMMRUSCH I 2,140,321

STOCKING BOARDING MACHINE Filed NOV. 22, 1957 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

Dec. 13, 1938. F. G. KOMMRUSCH STOCKING BOARDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 22, 1957 II I l I I I 1 II R m m V W.

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 13,- 1938. F. s. KOMMRUSCH -STOCKING BOARDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 22 1937 v INVENTOR. fifiw/P m fmw/Wwm ATTORNEY.

Dec. 13, 1938. F. G. KOMMRUSCH STOCKING BOARDING MACHINE I 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 22, 1937 INVENTOR.

TLM m Dec. 13,1938. PG, KOMMRUSCH 2,140,321

,STOCKING BOARDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 22, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 13, 1938. KQMMRUSC'H 2,140,321 STOCKING BOARDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 22 1957 e Sheets-Sheet 6 l 6'7 4 p 7 75 r 4. 56 J I g I II "i l w (QM-MN ATTO E Y.

Patented Dec. 13, 1938 2,140,321

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STOCKING BOARDING MACHINE Fredrick G. Kommrusch, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application November 22, 1937, Serial No. 175,875

20 Claims. (01. 223112) This invention relates to a stocking boarding erator sets the toe and heel, the machine theremachine. In the manufacture of stockings, the after projecting the board outwardly into the stockings come from the dyeing department to the stocking, the operator, with a sweep of her hands, boarding machine in a moist condition, and in the insuring the positioning of the back seam in a boarding department they are dried and put into full-fashion stocking at the edge of the board, 5 a salable condition. the machine simultaneously with any slight ad- In one process in the manufacture of stockings, justing operations of the operator continuing the the stockings are placed on boards by two operaprojecting of the board into the stocking until a tors who stand up. The first operator pulls the predetermined degree of tension is reached, and

cuff over the board and sets the toe and heel, and thereafter automatically releasing the stocking 10 the second operator pulls the stocking down its from the cuff support. entire length over the board and sets the back Further objects are to provide a machine havseam and smooths the cufi by hand. The machine ing the characteristics hereinabove enumerated thereafter causes the board to travel around a n W ch a reciprocating head p v Wit a closed track through a drier to a stocking reprotecting hood reciprocates forwardly over and 15 mover which pulls the stocking from the board. beyond the cuff support and thereby places a The operators heretofore had to position the enshielding hood over the cuff support prior to the tire length of the stocking on the board and automatic clamping of the Cu f t0 t Cuff psmooth out all portions thereof, including the cuff p the d being effective to p the p of the stocking, and it required extensive movetors a ds ut f th Way in t v t the p a- 20 ments of the hands of the operators and also r has th ut of p s ti n, t r y insurin the made the process comparatively slow, even with meXimulil Safety f01the Operatorthe most skillful operators, and also frequently Further objects re o pr vi a kin rdresulted in tearing or damage of the stocking due ing machine which after automatically cla p to the fact that with the speed required of the h ff f h stocking 0 h u f pp rt, pr 25 operators it was extremely diflicult to secure the J' the board into e Stocking While the cuff of exact tensioning desired of the stocking on the the Stocking is held Stationary, and after a Preboard. determined tension has been secured for the This invention is designed to provide a, stocking stocking, automatically releasing the stocking and boarding machine which reduces the number of Simultaneously Caus ng a pair of brushes to come 30 operators needed, requiring only a single o erainto Operation and brush out the pp p rti n 1 tor, and allows such operator to be seated instead of the Stocking P a y the Cuff and the adof requiring a standing position because the malacent portion of the Stocking, SO as to insure a chine presents the board in front of the operator Smooth, unWriIlkled positioning of e Stocking On in a substantially horizontal position at table t b a d Without y danger whats v r of 35 height, which increases production, and in which tearing the t gfewer movements are required of the operator. An embodiment of the invention is shown in the Further objects are to provide a stocking boardaccompanying drawings, in which: ing machine which reduces the chances of tear- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the ing or injuring the stocking, which insures a predevice with parts broken away and parts omitted. 40 determined definite tension for the stocking when Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal View of the it is finally stretched during its positioning on the reciprocating head and the adjacent portions of board, and which brushes out the stocking, parthe track and associated mechanism, with parts ticularly the cuff, thus insuring the correct semiin section and parts broken away.

automatic positioning of the stocking. Figure 3 is a vertical elevation, partly in section v4:5

In greater detail, further objects of this invenand partly broken away, of the structure shown tion are to provide a stocking boarding machine in Figure 2. in which a seated operator takes the hose by the Figure 4 is a plan View of a portion of the cuff, finds the seam by feel, pulling the cufi over tracks with the head and other parts of the the then protruding foot portion of the board, and mechanism removed, one of the carriages being 50 places the cuff over stationary cuff supports, the shown in full lines with the board sectioned off, machine causing the board to dwell during this other positions of the carriage being shown in portion of the operation. The machine theredotted lines. after automatically clamps the cuff to the and Figure 5 is a sectional view showing a part of support. During the dwell and clamping, the opthe operating structure of the head in its re- 55 tracted position, such view corresponding to a section on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 5 showing the head in its fully advanced position with the clamping fingers clamping the cuff portion of the stocking to the cuff support.

Figure I is a further View of the operating head showing the position of the parts with the clamping fingers released and with the brushes in operation.

Figure 5a is a detail fragmentary sectional view on the line 5a-5a of Figure 2, such view corresponding to the position of the parts shown in Figure 5.

Figure 6a is a view similar to Figure 5a with the position of the parts as in Figure 6.

Figure 7a is a view corresponding to Figure 5a with the position of the parts as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail of the switch which controls the solenoid and brush driving means.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 99 of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a sectional view on the line Ill-l0 of Figure 2, that part of the track 4 showing in such figure being shown in elevation.

Figure 11 is a sectional view on the line H-ll of Figure 1.

Figure 12 is a sectional view on the line I2|2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line I3--l3 of Figure 2.

Figure 14 is a sectional View approximately on the line I l-l4 of Figure 3.

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical circuits to the motor and solenoid.

The machine comprises a closed track which may be rectangular and which may have a main portion I extending along the front of the machine, a portion 2 extending through the drier 3, and connecting end portions 4 and 5. The track is shown in greater detail in Figure 12, from which it will be seen that it comprises a central rail 6 and upper and lower rails. The central rail projects inwardly,

This track is adapted to receive and guide a plurality of carriages I. These carriages have the upper and lower plates, as shown in Figure 12, and of rectangular construction, as may be seen from Figure 4, and also have a rectangular inner block or plate 8 which is set at an angle to the upper and lower plates, as indicated in Figure 4. These carriages each have swivelly mounted thereon the stocking boards indicated at 9 and shown most clearly in Figure 2.

These stocking boards are carried by a spindle H! which is pivotally mounted within the bearing H, such bearing being counterweighted at I2 and provided with a laterally extending pivot pin l3, which is rotatably mounted within the angularly set bearing M, such bearing [4 being rigid with the carriage l. The shaft or pivot member l3 carries rollers 15 at its outer end and the spindle l0 carries a finger H3 at its outer end.

The carriage and the stocking boards are of the conventional and well known construction. The carriage is provided with a downwardly projecting pin I1, see Figure 12, which is provided with a roller l8. This roller is engaged by cams located beneath the tracks and is advanced along the track in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1. Two of these cams have been shown. For example one of the cams is indicated by the reference character i9 in Figure 4 and advances the carriages along the portion 1 of the track. Another of the cams is indicated at 20 in Figure 4 and advances the carriages along the the portion f of the track. fhese cams are carried by shafts extending beneath and lengthwise of the tracks, two of the shafts being indicated in Figure 4: at 2 l and 22. The shafts are driven by any suitable source of power, not shown, and operate simultaneously as they are connected by gearing, as shown, for instance, in Figure 4 at 23. The carriage, when it leaves the cam of one section of the track, is received and advanced by the cam of the next section of the track in a well known manner.

All of the cams, with the exception of the cam l9, may be of conventional construction. The cam 59, however, as shown in Figure 3, is provided with a straight portion lying in a plane at right angles to the axis of the shaft 2!, as shown in Figure 3 and indicated at 24, so as to provide a dwell for the carriage at this point.

The shaft 21 is also provided with a drum. 25, see Figures 3 and 9, such drum being of a smaller diameter than the cam i9 and being provided with outwardly projecting cams 26 and 2! for a purpose hereinafter to appear. Also it is to be noted from Figures 3 and 9 that the cam I9 is itself provided with an angularly set block or cam 28 whose purpose will later appear.

Assuming that a stocking board 9 is in the full line position shown in Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the continuous rotation of the cam IE! will advance the board until it occupies the position 9a in Figure 1. At this time the carriage is at the straight portion of the cam 24 and a dwell is allowed the board. The operator, who is seated on a stool 29, Figure 1, takes the hose by the cuff, finds the seam by feel, pulling the cuff over the then protruding foot portion of the board, and places the cuff over stationary cuff ing, the operator sets the toe and heel, the machine thereafter projecting the board outwardly into the stocking, the operator with a sweep of her hands, insuring the positioning of the back seam in a full-fashion stocking at the edge of the board, the machine simultaneously with any slight adjusting operations of the operator continuing the projecting of the board into the stocki'ng until a predetermined degree of tension is reached, and thereafter automatically releasing the stocking from the cuff support.

This cuff supporting means is shown in plan View in Figures 1 and 2 and in sectional view in Figures 5, 6 and 7, and it consists of a pair of stationary projecting jaws or plates which preferably have ears 3% projecting from its ends, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, so as to assist in holding the cuff of the stocking in place.

Preferably a pair of rollers or other guiding means indicated at 3i, see Figures 5, 6 and 7,

are provided for guiding the board 9, such guiding action being shown particularly in Figures 6 and '7. Additionally the cuff supporting means is provided with cam like portions 32 which assist in guiding the board 9 in between the lips or stationary jaws 30 of the cuff supporting means.

marked 3b, where it is fully extended, to the position marked 90 in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 10, it will be seen that the two supporting portions 38 are rigidly joined by a spacing block 33 at one end and the lower one is supported by a pillar or arm 34 at the other end from the track 4.

At the termination of the dwell, the board moves from the position 9a to Sband is projected into the stocking, the operator meanwhile making any minor adjustments that may be needed, as by a sweep of her hand she may assist in positioning the back seam along the back of the board. The cuff of the stocking is clamped to the cuff support in an automatic manner which will hereinafter be described and is later automatically released therefrom when the tension of the stocking reaches a predetermined point, to thus preclude the possibility of tearing or injuring the stocking.

A reciprocating head is provided and comprises a slide 35 which is guided by guides 36, see Figures 3 and 9. The frame of the machine is cut out, as indicated at 31, see Figures 3 and 9, and the slide 35 is also provided with a cut-out 38, see Figure 9, through which a lever 40 projects, the lever being provided with a pointed lower end adapted to be latched behind the notch 4| or the notch 42 of a latch lever 43. The latch lever is spring urged upwardly, as indicated, and is adapted to be retracted by a solenoid 44 or other magnetic member having a lost motion connection 45. The lever 40 is rigidly attached to one of the sleeves 46. The shafts 46 are arranged one above the other and are of tubular construction and are operatively connected by means of gearing 41 so that they simultaneously rotate in reverse directions for a part turn whenever the lever 40 is rocked in a manner hereinafter to appear, the lever 40 being urged in a clockwise direction by spring means as indicated in Figure 9.

The front end of the shafts 46 are each provided with bevelled gears 48 which mesh with bevelled gears 49, such latter being rigidly attached to a pair of parallel clamping finger rock shafts 50 arranged one above the other. The rock shafts 58 are carried within bearing sleeves 5| which are in turn mounted within bearings 52 carried by frames 53 which are spaced apart and arranged one above the other and are rigidly carried by the rigid outer sleeves 54, see Figure 2, the sleeves 54 being in turn rigidly secured to the block 55 which is carried by the slide 35, see Figures 2 and 9.

U-shaped arms 56, see Figures 2, 5, 6, 7 and 13, are provided with hubs 51 which are pivotally mounted on the sleeves 5 I. The U-shaped frames 56 are therefore adapted to be rocked about axes coaxial with the shafts 50. Each of the U- shaped frames carries a brush 58 and the shafts 59 of the brushes extend outwardly to one side of the U-shaped frames and are each provided with bevelled gears 60 which mesh with gears 6| carried by short shafts 62 which are joined by means of a universal joint with the shafts 63, such last mentioned shafts being arranged within the sleeves 46. The shafts 63 are provided with gears 64 which mesh and one of the shafts is provided with a gear 65 which is connected to the gear 66 of the driving motor 61.

This motor 61 is adapted to be started and stopped when it is desired to rotate the brushes 58 or allow the brushes to remain idle. Obviously, instead of starting and stopping the motor, an electromagnetic or other clutch could be used without departing from the spirit of this invention. The motor 61 is mounted in the reciprocating head and supported from the slide 35, as shown most clearly in Figure 3. The slide is urged'to the left, as viewed in Figures 2 and 3, by

means of the spring 68 and if desired, a cushion stop 69 or other suitable means can be provided for taking up the shock when the head is retracted under the influence of the spring.

The head in its inactive position is shown in Figure 3. It is provided with a hood '10 which is slotted and allows the cuff supporting means 30 to project therefrom when the head is in its retracted position. Means in the form of a cam controlled lever 1|, see Figure 3, is provided and is pivoted, as indicated at I I, to a stationary part of the machine and is connected by means of a link with the head to draw the head to the right, as viewed in Figure 3, against the action of the spring 68 when the roller I2 carried by the lever II is engaged by the cam block or auxiliary cam 28 carried by the cam l9.

When the carriage is rocked to the right, as viewed in Figure 3, it is locked in its extreme forward position by means of the spring pressed finger 13, see Figure 11, which passes upwardly through the frame 36 and projects upwardly behind the carriage and thus holds the carriage in place. This spring pressed finger is retracted by means of a cam roller 14, see Figure 11, which rides over a cam portion 15 carried by each of the stocking board carriages The tripping or release of the carriage occurs after the operation on the stocking is completed for a given board form, and when the carriage of the next succeeding board form comes into position to operate the cam roller 14 of Figure 11, attention being directed to Figure 1 to see the general position of this cam roller.

When the head is in its extreme forward position, the lever 46 is above the latch lever 43 and the cam roller 16 carried by a projection of the lever 43 is in line with the cam 26, see Figure 9. Further the cam roller 11 of a lever 18 is in line with the cam 21. The lever 18 is spring urged in a counter-clockwise direction and is provided with a projecting portion 19 which, when the head is in its extreme forward position, is adapted to strike the lever 40 when the cam roller 11 is actuated by the cam 21 to rock the lever 40 to the right and thereby rotate the tubular shafts 46 to cause clamping fingers 80, see Figures 2, 5, 6 and 7, which are carried by the shaft 50 to clamp the cuff of the stocking to the stationary cuff support 30.

When the head is in its retracted position, the parts are as shown in Figure 5 and when in its forward position, the parts are as shown in Figure 6 or 7. The shafts 50 have a squared intermediate portion 8|, see Figures 2, 5, 6 and '7, and these intermediate squared portions pivotally support the clamping fingers 80. Such fingers are urged towards clamping position by means of springs 82 mounted within recesses in the shafts 8| and the tension of the springs is controlled by the screw plugs 83.

When the shafts 8| are rocked through the medium of the lever 40, see Figures 5, 6, '7 and 9, the fingers 88 are rocked into the position shown in Figure 6 and clamp the cuff of the stocking to the stationary cuff support 36. The shafts 50 are provided with hub portions which have dogs or fingers 84, see Figures 2, 5a, 6a and 7a, which are received within notches 85 formed in the hubs or sleeves 51, which latter are rigid with the U-shaped arms 56, see Figures 2, 5a, Ga'and 7a.

The U-shaped arms 56 are spring urged inwardlyby means of the springs 86, see Figure 13, so that the brushes 58 are normally urged inwardly by means of the springs 86. The springs may or may not be adjustable as desired. They are prevented from moving inwardly when the dog 84, see Figure 5a, is in the position shown in such figure and thus restrains the hub 51, which is rigid with the U-shaped frame 56, see Figure 2, from rocking to a position to move the brushes inwardly into engagement with the stocking, such stocking being omitted from Figure 2 and being indicated at 81 in Figures 6 and 7, the cuff portion of the stocking being sectioned heavier than the body portion thereof. It is apparent that when the lever 40 is rocked in a counter-clockwise direction by the projection 19 of the lever 18, see Figure 9, that the lugs 84 are moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 5a, 6a and 7a,

tionary contact 95.

so that the parts occupy the position shown in Figure 60, when the lever 40, Figure 9, engages behind the notch 4|. This causes the brushes 58 to move into position to engage the stocking, as in Figure 6 which corresponds to the section 6a.

After the clamping fingers have clamped the cuff of the stocking to the cuff support 30, as shown in Figure 6, the board 9, which up to this time has remained stationary, now moves forward as the straight portion of the cam 24, see Figure 3, has passed the carriage of that board and consequently the board is projected forwardly or to the right, as viewed in Figure 6, and projected into the stocking while the cuif of the stocking is held securely locked to the cuff support 30 by means of the spring pressed fingers 80, such spring pressed fingers being provided with cushioned faces of any suitable material, such as leather for instance and as indicated in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

' In order to prevent excessive tension being imparted to the stocking an automatic release is provided which includes a feeler finger or bar 88, see Figures 5, 6 and 7, which is carried by a lever 89 which is urged in a counter-clockwise direction by means of the adjustable spring 90. The spring is purposely made adjustable so that the tension at which the feeler finger 88 will respond may be adjusted to the particular needs of the type of stocking handled by the machine. Obviously when the tension at the cuff portion of the stocking, see Figure 6, arrives at a predetermined point, it will cause the lever 89 to rise and will release the latching cam 9| of the switch arm 92.

This switch arm 92 is urged by means of the spring 93, see Figure 8, towards switch closed position. The switch arm may be of any suitable construction. For instance, it may be of insulating material and may carry an adjustable contact 94 which is adapted to engage the sta- These contacts control the circuit of the solenoid and motor, as shown in Figure 15, and when the switch is closed, the circuit to the motor 61 and solenoid 44 is completed. Anyother suitable type of switch could, of course, be employed without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The closing of the switch causes the solenoid to depress the latching lever 43a limited extent and allows the lever 48 to move from the notch 4| to the notch 42, see Figure 9. This allows re-. lease of the clamping fingers as the lever 40 controlsthe position of the clamping fingers, as hereinbefore described, and allows them to move to the position shown in Figure 7. This corresponds to the sectional view la and it will be seen that the dog 84 carried by the shafts 50 has not yet moved the hubs 51 against the action of the springs urging the brushes inwardly and indicated in Figure 13 at 86. The dog 84 has merely moved over to the other side of the slot of the hub 51, as shown in Figure 7a. Preferably the dogs are provided in duplicates at opposite ends of the squared portions 8| of the shafts 50, see Figure 2.

The motor operates and drives the brushes 58 so as to brush out the cuff and adjacent portion of the stocking 81 as the board continues to move outwardly, the parts being in the position shown in Figure '7. When the board has moved to its extreme position so that the cufi of the stocking 8'! has passed from between the brushes 58, the cam 26 will engage the cam roller 15, see Figure 9, and depress the latching lever 43, thus completely releasing the lever 45 and allowing it to move into the position shown in Figure 9 and thus rocking the shafts 50, together with their squared finger carrying portions 8!, to the position shown in Figures 5 and 5a, and thus rocking not only the clamping fingers to a widely separated position, but also the U-shaped frames 55 with the brushes 58.

It is to be noted that immediately upon the forward motion of the head, the hood T0 of the head moves past the stationary cuff support 35 and will thus push the operators hands out of the way if she has them in the wrong position at this portion of the cycle. The brushes and clamping fingers and electric switch are all housed by the hood 10.

When the parts rock outwardly, as shown in Figure 5, it will be seen that the switch arm 62 engages the stop 96, see Figure 5, and opens the switch, the switch being locked in open position by means of the cooperation of the latching cam 9| and the lever 89. This stops the motor 5? and also opens the circuit of the solenoid 48.

When the stocking board has arrived at its most extended position as shown at 92) in Figure 1, the carriage is in the right-hand dotted corner of Figure 4 and the cam 20 of the shaft 22 then takes charge of the carriage and moves it along the track 4. The cam 20 is of conventional construction and in accordance with the usual practice, a cut away hub 91 is provided adjacent the gear 23 of the shaft 2| to allow the passage therethrough of the end of the cam 20. A similar cut away portion is provided in the hub of the gear 23 on the shaft 22 to allow the passage therethrough of the cam l9, though such cut away portion would be hidden in the position of the parts shown in Figure 4.

The board now moves laterally from the hood along the track 4. At a short distance from the hood, it will be noted that the upper and lower rails of the track 4, whichwere cut away, now approach each other and the inner rails 98 of lower portions of the carriage, which are most clearly shown in Figure 12, are now guided by the upper and lower rails of the track 4, thus turning the board into the position shown at in Figure l. Thereafter any suitable means, such as the cam means 95, lilil and I51, are em ployed to raise the board into an upright posis tion and turn the board with its plane coaxial 65 the track 4 are cut away so that the upper and with that of the track 4. The board now enters 15 the dryer 3 and progresses along the track 2 to the track 5, suitable cams being provided for causing this progress of the board along the tracks.

When the board arrives at the position marked 9d, a stripping means I02 of conventional construction catches the foot portion of the stocking and strips it from the board. Thereafter the carriage travels along the track I and passes cam mechanism of any suitable type, such as diagrammatically indicated at I03, which engages the members I and I6, see Figures 1 and 2, and turns the board over so that the foot portion is leading the carriage and the toe is pointed outwardly towards the operator, as indicated in Figure 1.

When the board falls over, it rests upon a stationary bar or support I04 and is rocked along this support onto the movable bar or support I05. The movable bar or support I05 is pivotally mounted and is provided with a crank arm I06, see Figures 2 and 9, which is connected by means of a link ID] with the lower of the U-shaped frames 53 so that when such U-shaped frame, which constitutes a part of the reciprocatory head, moves forwardly, the bar I65 will be rocked out of the way of the approaching carriage.

While one form of cam means has been illustrated for moving the carriages around the closed track, it is obvious that other carriage moving means could be employed without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Further it is obvious that the direction of travel could be reversed if desired and the reciprocatory head could be located at the lefthand corner of Figure 1 and the stripping mechanism at the right-hand corner, if so desired. Further, though it is preferable to turn the board over with the toe portion presented towards the operator, it nevertheless is within the province of this invention to have the heel portion of the board towards the operator.

The main steps in the operation will be briefly summarized herewith.

The carriages pass around the closed track, composed of the parts I, 4, 2 and 5, passing through the dryer, and the stockings are stripped from the forms at the left-hand portion of Figure 1, suitable mechanism, not shown, being provided in the conventional manner for turning the boards down into the position shown at the lefthand portion of Figure 1. Thereafter the boards travel along the track I towards the head, and at an intermediate portion of the track are turned over and rotated about their longitudinal axes 180 so that the foot portion of the board leads the carriage and the toe points towards the operator. Thereafter the approaching board is partly projected between the lips of the stationary cuff support 39 and the board is caused to dwell at this point. The operator quickly takes the hose by the cuff, finds the seam by feel, pulling the cuff over the then protruding foot portion of the board, and places the cuff over the stationary cuff supports, the machine causing the board to dwell during this portion of the operation.

The head now moves forward and the cufi is clamped to the cuff support and the brushes move down into engagement with the stocking. The stocking is held locked to the cuff support and the board is projected forwardly into the stocking, the operator, with a sweep of her hands, setting the back seam. The board continues to project forward until the tension of the stocking arrives at a predetermined point and actuates the feeler finger 88, see Figure 6, to release the switch and allow such switch to close the circuit of the solenoid and of the motor or of a magnetic clutch connected to a constantly running motor, not shown.

The clamping fingers 80, see Figure 7, are now released in the automatic manner hereinbefore described, thus releasing the stocking from the cuff support, and the brushes arenow in operation and brush out the cuff of the stocking and the adjacent portions of the stocking while the board continues forwardly. The final position of the board is beyond that shown in Figure '7 so that the cuff portion of the stocking is drawn completely forwardly from between the brushes. Thereafter the brush holders are rocked outwardly into the position shown in Figure 5 and the switch is opened, thus opening the circuit of the motor and the solenoid.

While the board is being projected outwardly and the stocking is clamped to the cuff support, the operator may make any minor adjustments she finds necessary. By a sweep of her hands, for instance, she may position the back seam along the rear edge of the board.

Thereafter the board, with the stocking properly stretched thereon, is moved along the track 4 to the dryer.

It is to be noted that when the board approaches the head, that it is in the approximate position shown at 96 in Figure 2 and that the carriage is in the dotted line position shown at the left-hand portion of Figure 4, such carriage being guided by engagement of the top and bottom portion 1 thereof with the outer portion of the track 1. Immediately following this, the intermediate portion 8 of the carriage is engaged by the inner rails 6 of the track I and the board is turned into the full line position shown in Figure 2, such board sliding along the stationary support I04 and. the movable support IE5, which latter is in alignment with the stationary support at this time, the reciprocatory head being stationary at this time and at the left-hand portion of its travel, as viewed in Figure 2.

It will be seen that a novel form of stocking boarding machine has been disclosed by this invention in which the number of operators required is reduced, in which the production can be speeded up or, in other words, a greater number of stockings handled, and which avoids danger of excessive stretching of the stocking or tearing thereof when it is positioned on the board, the machine having the automatic feeler finger and release of the clamping fingers so that when the board has been projected into the stocking and a sufiicient tension produced in the stocking, the feeler finger causes automatic release of the cuff from the stationary cuff support.

It will be seen further that no harm can come to the operator as the clamping fingers, brushes and switch are housed in the reciprocatory head and the housing of the head will push the operators hands out of the way in the event she does not have them in the correct position at the time the head starts on its forward travel. Additionally, less fatigue is caused the operator as she does not have to make extended motions and also may remain seated during the entire process.

It will be seen further that the machine, though accomplishing the above results, is of relatively simple construction and though positive drives are provided for the carriages, nevertheless the automatic release of the stocking insures the satisfactory handling of the stocking without danger of excessive stretching or of tearing.

While the expression stocking has been used through the description, it is to be understood that the term is not to be construed in its most limited sense but it intended to cover any form of stocking or sock for which it may be desired to use the machine.

While rotary brushing means have been shown and described, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited to the specific type of cuff smoothing means shown, but any other type of cuff smoothing means could be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and is to be interpreted as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said board, cuff holding means for temporarily holding the cuff of a stocking, and means for advancing said carriage and inserting said board into the stocking while the cuff of the stocking is held by said cuff holding means.

2. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said board, a cuff holder for temporarily holding the cuff of a stocking, and means for causing relative motion between said board and said cuff holder while the cuff of the stocking is held by said cuff holder to automatically insert said board into the stocking.

' 3. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said board, cuff holding means for temporarily holding the cuff of a stocking, means for advancing said carriage and inserting said board into the stocking while the cuff of the stocking is held by said cuff holder,

said means including dwell producing means for causing a dwell of said board after said board has projected a part of the way only from said cuff holding means.

4. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said board, cuff receiving and holding means for receiving and temporarily holding the cuff of a stocking, cam means for advancing said carriage to project said board through said cuff holding means, said cam means having a portion for producing a dwell after the foot portion of said board has passed said cuff holding means to; allow the positioning of a stocking on said foot portion and on said cuff holding means, said cam means subsequently projecting said board outwardly into said stocking while said stocking is held by said cuff holding means.

5. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said board, cuff holding means for temporarily holding the cuff of a stocking, and means for advancing said carriage and guiding said board through said cuff holding means into the stocking while the cuff of the stocking is held by said cuff holding means.

6. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said board, cuff holding means for temporarily holding the cuff of a stocking, means for advancing said carriage and guiding said board through said cuff holding means into the stocking while the cuff of the stocking is held by said cuff holding means, and

automatically operating means for smoothing out the stocking on said board.

7. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said board, cuff holding means for temporarily holding the cuff of a stocking, means for advancing said carriage and guiding said board through said cuff holding means into the stocking while the cuff of the stocking is held by said cuff holding means, a pair of brushes positioned on opposite sides of said cuff holding means, and automatically operating means for bringing said brushes into engagement with a stocking on said stocking board and for moving said brushes to brush out the stocking.

8. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said board, cuff holding means for receiving and temporarily holding the cuff of a stocking, automatically operating clamping fingers for clamping the cuff to said cuff holding means, means for advancing said carriage and inserting said board into the stocking while the cuff of the stocking is held by said cuff holding means, and automatically operating means for releasing said fingers, whereby said cuff will be drawn from said cuff holding means upon the completion of the travel of said board.

9. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said board, cuff holding means for receiving and temporarily holding the cuff of a stocking, automatically operating clamping fingers for clamping the cuff to said cuff holding means, means for advancing said carriage and inserting said board into. the stocking while the cuff of the stocking is held by said cuff holding means, and automatically operating means responsive to the tension of the'stocking for releasing said fingers to allow the cuff to be drawn from said cuff holding means by the advancing board when the tension of the stocking I 1 means, and a tension responsive member responsive to the tension of the stocking, and electromagnetic means controlled by the tension responsive member for releasing said fingers when the tension of the stocking on the stocking board reaches a predetermined value.

11. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said stocking board, a cuff holder for receiving and temporarily holding the cufi of a stocking, a reciprocating head, means for reciprocating said head outwardly, clamping fingers carried by said head for clamping the cuff of the stocking to said cuff holder, means for advancing said carriage and guiding said board into the stocking while the cuff is held on said cuff holder, and tension responsive means for releasing said fingers when the tension of the stocking arrives at a predetermined value.

12. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said stocking board, a cuff holder for receiving and temporarily holding the cuff of a stocking, a reciprocating head, means for reciprocating said head outwardly, clamping fingers carried by said head for clamping the cuff of the stocking to said cuff holder, means for advancing said carriage and guiding said board into the stocking while the cuff is clamped to said cuff holder, tension responsive means for releasing said fingers when the tension of the stocking arrives at a predetermined value, rotary brushes carried by said reciprocating head, means for moving said brushes into contact with the stocking of said board, and means for rotating said brushes to. brush out a portion at least of the stocking.

13. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said stocking board, a cuff holder for receiving and temporarily holding the cuff of a stocking, a reciprocating head, means for reciprocating said head outwardly, clamping fingers carried by said head for clamping the cufi of the stocking to said cuff holder, means for advancing said carriage and guiding said board into the stocking while the cuff is clamped to said cuff holder, tension responsive means for releasing said fingers when the tension of the stocking arrives at a predetermined value, rotary brushes carried by said reciprocating head, means for moving said brushes into contact with the stocking of said board, means for rotating said brushes to brush out a portion at least of the stocking, and automatically actuated means for moving said brushes away from said board after said board has carried the stocking past said brushes.

1%. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said stocking board, a cuff holder for receiving and temporarily holding the cuff of a stocking, a reciprocating head, means for reciprocating said head outwardly, clamping fingers carried by said head for clamping the cuff of the stocking to said cuff holder, means for advancing said carriage and guiding said board into the stocking while the cuff is clamped to said cuff holder, tension responsive means for releasing said fingers when the tension of the stocking arrives at a predetermined value, a pair of rotary brushes carried by said reciproeating head and normally spaced apart, means for moving said brushes towards each other into engagement with the stocking, and means for rotating said brushes after said clamping fingers have released the cuff of the stocking and while said board is moving outwardly whereby said brushes will brush out the cuff of the stocking.

15. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said stocking board, a cuff holder for receiving and temporarily holding the cuff of a stocking, means for advancing said carriage and projecting said board through said cuff holder into the stocking, a head mounted for reciprocation, means for moving said head forwardly, said head having clamping means for clamping the cuff of the stocking to said cuff holder and having means for smoothing the stocking on said board, means for locking said head in its forward position, and means for releasing said head after said board has moved the cuff of the stocking past the smoothing means.

16. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said board, a cuff holder having spaced lips over which the cuff of a stocking is adapted to be positioned, means for advancing said carriage and projecting said board through said cuff holder into a stocking, a reciprocatory head, clamping fingers carried within said head and adapted to clamp the cuff of a stocking to said cuff holder, spaced rocking frames mounted within said head, rotary brushes carried by said frames and adapted to be moved into engagement with said stocking, and means for rotating said brushes to brush out the stocking as said board is advanced, and tension responsive means for releasing said fingers when the tension of the stocking reaches a predetermined value.

17. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said board, a cuff holder for temporarily receiving the cuff of a stocking and having spaced jaws, means for advancing said carriage and guiding said board between the spaced jaws of said cuff holder, at reciprocatory head, means for moving said head forwardly with respect to said cuff holder, rocking frames carried by said head, clamping fingers and rotary brushes carried by said rocking frames, said clamping fingers being adapted to hold the cuff of a stocking on the cuff holder, means for rocking said frames towards said board, and means for rotating said brushes to smooth out the stocking on said board, said fingers automatically releasing the stocking when a predetermined tension has been imparted to the stocking, said brushes coming into operation after the release of said fingers.

18. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a cuff holder for receiving the cuff of a stocking, means for holding the cuff of the stocking to said cuff holder, means for projecting said board through said cuff holder into said stocking, means for releasing said cuff from said cuff holder, and means for moving said board laterally from said cuff holder.

19. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said board, means for guiding and advancing said carriage, a cuff holder having spaced lips for temporarily receiving the cuff of a stocking, a reciprocatory head having clamping jaws and rotary brushes, means for reciprocating said head and for automatically causing said clamping jaws to clamp the cuff of the stocking to said cuif holder, means for projecting said board between-the lips of said cuff holder into the stocking, tension responsive means for releasing the cuff of the stocking from said cuff holder when the tension of the stocking reaches a predetermined value, means for moving the brushes into engagement with the stocking and for rotating said brushes after said stocking has been released from said cuff holder, means for moving said board laterally from said cufi holder, and means for retracting said carriage.

20. In a stocking boarding machine, a stocking board, a carriage for said board, a cuff holder for receiving the cuff of a stocking, clamping fingers for clamping the cuff of the stocking to said cuff holder, means for advancing said carriage and projecting said board into said stocking while the cuff is clamped to said cufi holder, and electromagnetic means responsive to the tension of said stocking for releasing said clamping fingers when the tension reaches a predetermined value.

FREDRICK G. KOMIMRUSCH. 

